Compare towns
Durham vs Rochester vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Rochester | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
33,144Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Rochester School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.